Page 63 of Fortress of Snow

They made their way up the rocky trail from the seashore to the grassy path back to the castle.

“What do you think of our seaside walk? You can enjoy this walk every day when you are living here at Bristow Castle.”

“I like it very much.”

Juliana let go of his hand and started running. He saw her nurse waiting for her up ahead.

“It seems she likes her nurse,” he said. “That is good. A child needs a friend.”

“A nurse’s job is not to be a friend. Surely you realize that children need discipline and structure and to be taught self-control.”

“Of course, but a child also needs to have a friend they can play with and confide in.”

Lady Bristow pressed her lips together, then quickly changedher expression and laughed. “I never realized you had such a soft heart. A knight with a soft heart.” She reached out and tickled his arm with her fingernails.

“A knight should be compassionate, when the situation calls for it.”

“And that is what I heard about you, why I told King Richard that you were the man I was looking for, the one I wanted to marry.” She drew near and squeezed his arm.

Perhaps she was not so motherly to the child, but Berenger could show her how to be gentle and mild-tempered, could he not?

As they neared the castle, he suddenly remembered something he had been wondering about. “How do you know Sir John?”

“I met him years ago,” she said, “when he was training at my uncle’s castle.”

“He must have been very young.”

“Yes, I believe he was sixteen or seventeen. And then I saw him again when I was visiting King Richard. I had heard about your exploits and asked him if he knew you.” She spun around suddenly and pointed back at the ocean. “What do you think? Is it not a magnificent view?”

He had to admit it was.

He wouldn’t ask her again, but he was also pondering what she’d said about Juliana and the shipwreck.

Later that evening Howard came into his bedchamber to stoke up the fire against the chill of the winter night.

“Howard, what happened when the ship wrecked near here and some sailors drowned?”

“When, sir?”

“A few months ago, I heard.”

“No, sir.” Howard shook his head. “There haven’t been any shipwrecks near here in many a year.”

“Not for many years? Are you sure?”

“Yes, sir.”

Why had Lady Bristow lied to him? Very strange. What was she concealing? He tried to remember how the child had reacted when Lady Bristow mentioned the shipwreck, but Juliana had said nothing.

“How long have you served Lady Bristow, Howard?”

The man suddenly cut his eyes away from Berenger and even shuffled so that his back was to him as he stoked the fire.

“I served under the master, Lord Bristow, since before Lady Bristow came here as a bride.”

He wanted to ask him what he thought of her, but that would be unfair. A servant could not speak ill of his master or mistress.

The man lit an extra candle, then said, “Will there be anything else you need, sir?”